phd in trauma psychology online

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Ph.D. Clinical Psychology with Major Area of Study in Trauma Psychology

Clinical psychology, ph.d., major area of study in trauma psychology.

Course Delivery

Total Credits

101 Credits

About the Program Focus of Study Program Requirements Specialization Track Options Program Coursework Faculty Accreditation & Awards APA Accreditation Diversity Initiatives Graduate Program FAQs How to Apply

About the Program

The program trains students according to the scientist-practitioner model in mental health diagnosis, assessment, and intervention for adults who have experienced traumas, and in basic and applied research on the psychological functioning of adults with a trauma history. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to work in a range of settings, including mental health clinics and clinical practices, hospitals, VA’s, colleges and universities, state offices, research institutes, and as consultants to a wide variety of other professional and community providers of services to adults who are trauma survivors.

The deadline for application to the Ph.D. program is November 15.

Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data

Academic Program Professional Licensure Disclosure

Focus of Study

Students will develop foundational skills in the science and practice of clinical psychology with an emphasis on trauma psychology. They will be prepared to provide diverse empirically based assessment and psychotherapeutic services, conduct research, educate, and provide leadership. W e aim to provide foundational knowledge to students seeking scientist-practitioner careers and specialty training in Trauma Psychology.

Program Requirements

Knowledge and skills in clinical psychology and basic scientific psychology are the foundations on which the trauma psychology focus is built. Students in this program are preparing to be clinical psychologists first and foremost, with a focus on trauma psychology as their curricular emphasis. Students entering this program are essentially agreeing to focus their work on trauma psychology rather than sampling the variety of populations and problems that might form the elective offerings in another program.

This program adheres to the scientist-practitioner model of training in clinical psychology, commonly referred to as the Boulder model. Under this model, professional psychologists are trained to be both scientists and practitioners with the goal of enhancing the interplay between science and practice. In an emerging field, such as trauma psychology, it is of utmost importance that practitioners add to the existing knowledge base regarding application strategies that are effective, and that scientists be informed of applied issues in shaping their pursuit of knowledge.

The curriculum will require at least five years of post-baccalaureate work to accomplish requirements of the doctoral degree. Students complete 101 hours of required and elective courses, a comprehensive exam, a dissertation of original scholarship, clinical practica, and a clinical internship (off site). The clinical curriculum requires specific coursework, required for licensure and accreditation, and an off-site internship year. Students who enter the program with a BA or BS degree will earn an MA en route to the doctoral degree through the mechanism of the existing MA program.

Timeline for program completion: Completion of the Clinical Psychology PhD program from the BA or BS starting point will typically take five years of residence on campus with the sixth year allocated for internship (students should expect this time frame as the general rule pending unusual exceptions).

Doctoral students are also advised that this is a 12-month program with clinical Practicum obligations during the summers and some limited Spring pre-term course requirements. Clinical and research work are continuous without regard to the semester structures and students are funded to participate year-round.

Successful completion of an APA-approved (or equivalent) one year (2000 hour) pre-doctoral internship is required for graduation.

This program values and promotes self-awareness as a significant component of training in clinical psychology. Students in this program engage in self-awareness exercises within their courses and practicum training, including assignments that promote growth in awareness of social structures that sustain privilege and oppression. Students are also strongly encouraged to engage in their own psychotherapy during their training.

Clinical Psychology with a Major Area of Focus in Trauma Psychology

Established in 2015, this scientist-practioner model program is designed to train students who have a particular interest in conducting research and working clinically with traumatized individuals in the the area of Clinical Psychology with a Major Area of Focus in Trauma Psychology. This area of study is based on the New Haven Competencies for Trauma Psychology.

Program Coursework

Required Coursework & Model Curriculum

The curriculum will typically take 5 years of residence on campus and a 6th year allocated for an internship. Students complete 101 hours minimum of required and elective courses, a Comprehensive Examination, a thesis and a dissertation of original scholarship, clinical practica, and a 12 month clinical internship (off-site). This number may be higher depending on your individual circumstances. The clinical curriculum is designed to meet Colorado requirements for licensure as well as American Psychological Association accreditation standards. Students who enter the program with a B.A. or B.S. degree will earn an M.A. en route to the doctoral degree through the mechanism of the existing clinical M.A. program.

Charles C. Benight, Ph.D. , Professor, Executive Director of the Lyda Hill Institute of Human Resilience Steven L. Bistricky, Ph.D. , Assistant Professor, Trauma Psychology Heather Littleton, Ph.D. , Associate Professor, Director of Research Operations of the Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience Colin T. Mahoney, Ph.D. , Assistant Professor, Trauma Psychology

Accreditation & Awards

The Ph.D. program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association through 2029.

2021 - UCCS Graduate School programs in latest U.S. News & World Report Rankings

#120 in the nation for best graduate Clinical Psychology program

#148 in the nation for best graduate Psychology program

APA Accreditation

The American Psychological Association (APA) Commission on Accreditation (CoA) accredits doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology, as well as predoctoral internship and postdoctoral residency training programs in accordance with published guidelines and procedures. Since 2007, the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs has been an APA accredited program built on the Boulder Scientist/Practitioner Model.

Graduating from an APA-accredited program provides an educational and scientific foundation on which to build a career in psychology, providing evidence-based clinical service to the public.

Why APA accreditation matters?

Questions related to the program's accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation: Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association 750 1st Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone: (202)336-5979 Email: [email protected] www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

Diversity Initiatives

The Psychology Department fosters inclusion, equity, and diversity of all members of society. 

Graduate Program FAQs

Graduate study has been a part of the UCCS Psychology Department since 1977.  You'll learn from our faculty in an environment designed for learning, research and student success – smaller class sizes than our peer institutions and the ability to connect one-on-one with your professors and supervisors.

How to Apply

Graduate students are those who have already completed a Bachelor's Degree and are pursuing a Master's, Doctoral, Graduate Certificate, or Graduate Non-Degree program. We also accept applications for non-degree seeking graduate students who wish to take courses but aren't planning on completing a degree or certificate program at UCCS. International students interested in UCCS Graduate School programs should also use this application.

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Top Online PhD in Trauma Counseling Doctorate Programs

If you are interested in a Ph.D. in counseling, this is a great time to earn this coveted degree. The demand for psychologists and counselors is rising; the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports jobs in the psychology field will increase by 14% by 2028, which is much faster than average. ( BLS.gov ).

You can now earn your Ph.D. in Trauma Counseling online, so getting your advanced degree has never been easier. Below are the five best online programs for this counseling degree.

#1 The Chicago School of Psychology

The Chicago School of Psychology offers an online Ph.D. in International Psychology with a Trauma Services concentration . Students are taught the skills needed to be leaders of organizations to develop preparedness and prevention training. The online degree program also teaches students how to establish programs to help with mental health problems due to trauma. ( TheChicagoSchool.edu ).

Graduates of this online Ph.D. program in trauma counseling will possess the skills to work on mental health problems around the world for organizations including nonprofits, government, education, the American Red Cross, international aid, and embassies.

A vital part of the program is two mandatory, nine-day field experiences abroad. Students are in the country for a week and in the field for six full days. The Chicago School has professional agreements with international organizations around the world to facilitate field experience activities.

Required courses to complete your online Ph.D. are:

• Self-Care Strategies in Humanitarian Efforts
• Assessment of Psychosocial and Mental Health Reactions to Traumatic Stress
• Mental Health Interventions

#2 Northcentral University

Northcentral University offers an online Ph.D. in Psychology with a concentration in Trauma and Disaster Relief . This four-year, online doctoral program will prepare students to grasp the needs of people who have endured abuse, physical injury, bullying, accidents and natural disasters, and who are struggling to cope with feelings related to these experiences. ( NCU.edu )

Learning outcomes of this Ph.D. in Trauma and Disaster Relief program are:

• Be able to appraise principles and theories in trauma psychology to understand and inform professional contexts.
• Be able to evaluate research methodologies in trauma psychology.
• Be able to choose psychological principles and research to apply to social, personal, and organizational problems.
• Be able to evaluate ethical principles in psychology in professional and academic matters.
• Be able to design effective and clear communication for trauma psychology professionals and the general public.

Required courses for this specialization are:

• Psychology of Violence
• Psychology of Traumatic Stress
• Disaster, Terrorism, and Mass Violence: Impacts on Mental Health
• Trauma-Informed Assessment, Risk, and Diagnosis
• Trauma-Informed Interventions with Disaster and Trauma Survivors
• Gender and Cultural Considerations in Disaster Trauma and Response

#3 Walden University

Walden University offers an online Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision with a concentration in Trauma and Crisis . Students in this accredited program learn to apply best practices and theory to crisis and trauma management as they work with groups and individuals recover from the effects of natural disasters, violence, war, or terrorism. ( Walden.edu ).

Students will broaden their understanding of the leadership roles, models, and proper strategies to respond to crises as a counseling manager or leader. You also will learn appropriate legal and ethical responses to community, individual, national and international crises.

Doctoral students also will develop an advanced understanding of counseling theory; teaching and supervision; research; and individual and group counseling skills. With the use of experiential practice, technology, collaboration, and contextually relevant curriculum, students will be ready to take over leadership positions in the trauma counseling profession.

Required courses include:

• Professional Orientation, Ethics, and Identity
• Teaching in Counselor Education
• Advanced Counseling Theories
• Clinical Supervision
• Professional Consultation, Program Evaluation, and Leadership
• Survey Research Methods
• Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue
• Crisis Management

#4 Liberty University

Liberty University offers an online Ed.D. in Community Care and Counseling with a concentration in Traumatology . This doctoral degree is designed to provide you with the tools and knowledge you need to offer professional trauma counseling services to people in all populations. Students will be prepared to serve communities and individuals as they recover from natural disasters, abuse, and personal crises. ( Liberty.edu ).

The Ed.D. in traumatology gives you the skills and advanced tools needed to address and identify the effects of disasters, emergencies, and tragedies on families, individuals, and entire communities. This is the ideal training program for professional counselors, pastors, crisis counselors, trauma therapists, and clinical social workers who want to enhance their knowledge to better help people dealing with tragedy.

Students will study crisis response and trauma therapy topics, from understanding the signs of child abuse to helping a community to recover from a terrorist attack.

The program does not require you to possess current state licensure for clinical counseling. It will, however, advance your knowledge and skills in a licensed clinical practice or alternative counseling ministry.

Required courses are:

• Child and Adolescent Trauma
• Adult and Familial Trauma
• Disaster Mental Health and Community Response
• Assessment and Testing in the Treatment of Trauma

#5 Regent University

Regent University offers an online Ph.D. in Counseling and Psychological Studies with a concentration in Trauma and Crisis Counseling . This program will prepare you for a rewarding career in research, mental health counseling, education, and psychological science.

Students will study advanced models of forgiveness, inner healing, critical incidents, crisis management, and community disaster and trauma. This program is designed for the doctoral student who wants to affect the culture in the counseling field but does not require professional accreditation. (Regent.edu). Learning outcomes are:

• Learn to identify the major stages of trauma recovery after mass violence and disaster.
• Develop advanced emergency management techniques that help in providing psychological first aid.
• Apply supportive care and intervention strategies during critical and traumatic events.
• Identify spiritual resources and challenges that affect grieving.
• Information Research and Resources
• Introduction and Leadership
• Supervision
• Qualitative Research Methodology
• Addictive Behaviors
• Research Methods in Psychological Sciences
• Disaster Trauma and Psychological First Aid
• Appraisal and Psychometrics
• Grief and Bereavement

The counseling field is growing, and students who earn their Ph.D. in trauma counseling will have a multitude of personally and financially rewarding job choices available to them.

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Trauma Emphasis

Put your phd to work with trauma survivors.

Combat veterans. Mass casualty events. Domestic violence. Child abuse. The potential long-term – and immediate – psychological costs of trauma exposure can be catastrophic.

Patients need a fully trauma-informed support team across every healthcare specialty, and the demand for compassionate experts in treating trauma-related psychological issues has always been high.

When you choose an emphasis in Trauma at Palo Alto University, you’ll work alongside researchers, teacher, policy makers, and clinicians to treat patients in crisis and address the growing public health needs.

Trauma Emphasis Objectives

You will receive specialized education and training in evidence-based assessment and treatment approaches in trauma psychology.

Our prerequisites and trauma-specific courses fulfill the didactive education criteria identified in the New Haven Trauma Competencies.

And your education won’t stop after you earn your degree. You will be expected to demonstrate expertise in this specialty in your commitment to lifelong learning at the post-doctoral level.

New Haven Trauma Competencies

The learning objectives of PAU’s Trauma Area of Emphasis are aligned with the New Haven Core Competencies (Cook & Newman, 2014). These competencies broadly include foundational knowledge, a range of functional skills, and professional attitudes.

Specifically, five areas are important to the specialized education and training needed by clinicians who work with trauma survivors:

• Scientific knowledge about trauma
• Psychosocial trauma-related assessment
• Trauma-focused psychosocial intervention
• Trauma-informed professionalism
• Trauma-informed relational and systems

The Trauma Area of Emphasis uses a series of benchmarks to identify and to assess successful attainment of trauma competencies.

Learn More about the New Haven Core Competencies

Risk and Resilience Research Lab Webinar

Course Requirements

Among mental health professionals, the potential long-term psychological costs of exposure to trauma has long been recognized. Adverse consequences have been well documented by researchers who study combat veterans, people who have experienced mass casualty events (e.g., disasters and terrorist attacks), domestic violence, and adult survivors of genocide, sexual assault, childhood abuse, or car accidents.

In response to the growing scientific literature, there is national support for developing a trauma-informed workforce across all healthcare domains, as evidenced by initiatives undertaken by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the Joint Commission.

Recent natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and international conflicts have hastened demand for clinicians with competence in assessing and treating trauma survivors. Alongside clinicians, trauma researchers, teachers, and policy makers who possess the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to meet growing public health needs are greatly needed.

The Trauma Area of Emphasis provides students with a theoretical, research, and clinical foundation necessary for developing competency in working with traumatized adults, children, adolescents, and their families.

Core Coursework

You must complete the core coursework required of all clinical students. In addition, you must complete a series of three required courses (9 units) that focus on trauma psychology.

Trauma core coursework must be completed over the course of two years, [2nd and 3rd] or [3rd and 4th] of the PhD program.

Students should plan their schedules carefully as successful completion of the perquisite CBT course are required for enrolling in the advanced courses. 

Prerequisites:

To enroll in the Assessment and Treatment of Trauma courses, you must complete CBT and the Foundations of Clinical Trauma Psychology with a grade at or above an A-.

Child, Adolescent and Family Trauma Specialization

• Foundations of Clinical Trauma Psychology (required prerequisite for the Assessment and Treatment course)
• Assessment and Treatment of Trauma in Children and Adolescents
• Elective PAU course with a child or adolescent trauma component*

Although the focus of assessment of this specialization track is on children and adolescents, it also includes adult family members, such as parents and grandparents, who are integral members of the process and outcome.

Adult Trauma Specialization

• Assessment and Treatment of Trauma in Adults
• Elective PAU course with an adult trauma component

Students who elect to complete both the Child and Adolescent Trauma Specialization and the Adult Trauma Specialization may fulfill the elective requirement (i.e., #3 requirement listed above) by completing a single course (i.e., not two courses – one for each specialization track) if aspects of adult and child/adolescent trauma are addressed at some point during the course. No course approval for the selected elective course is needed from the Director of the Trauma Area of Emphasis.

*  Students can take CBT concurrently with Foundations of Clinical Trauma Psychology course, but not concurrently with the Assessment and Treatment of Trauma courses. CBT and Foundations of Clinical Trauma Psychology are prerequisite courses that need to be completed prior to taking the Assessment and Treatment of Trauma in Children and Assessment and Treatment of Trauma in Adults courses. 

Dr. Brown is a tenured Professor, Director of the Trauma Program, Director of the Risk and Resilience Research Lab at Palo Alto University, and faculty advisor for the Association of Traumatic Stress Studies. Her clinical and research focus is on trauma and resilience, global mental health, aging, and vulnerable populations.

Eligibility

All students may take the Assessment and Treatment trauma courses if the prerequisite courses are completed. No exceptions will be made for waiving CBT prerequisite course. 

Students can elect to complete one or both of the Trauma Area of Emphasis specializations in Child and Adolescent Trauma or in Adult Trauma. 

Students can only report completion of the Trauma Area of Emphasis if they have fulfilled all requirements of one or of both specialization tracks (i.e., required trauma courses, trauma focused practicum, dissertation).

With carefully planning, students can complete both specializations if desired.  

Additional Requirements

To be competitive for obtaining a top tier internship, you will need to demonstrate excellent writing and statistical skills.

You should be actively involved with a research group that is focused on trauma related projects, and strive to publish papers and give presentations on trauma related topics.

Professional Development

You will be expected to actively take part in professional activities. This includes student membership in the American Psychological Association, Division of Trauma Psychology (56) and regular attendance at the Palo Alto University Trauma Journal Club.

Dissertation

Students in the Trauma Area of Emphasis must complete a dissertation that makes a scientific contribution to the field of trauma psychology.

In your 3rd or 4th year, you must complete an official practicum placement (one year of full or supplemental training) in a setting that includes a caseload of patients with PTSD or other trauma-related disorders in which trauma is the primary treatment focus.

Students are required to complete an internship in a setting that includes a caseload of patients with PTSD or other trauma-related disorders in which trauma is the primary focus for at least 33% of the total internship hours.

Completion of the Trauma Area of Emphasis

Successful completion of the Trauma Area of Emphasis at Palo Alto University is only one component in the education and clinical training necessary to become a competent clinician. Further specialty preparation and development is expected at the pre-doctoral and post-doctoral level as part of a commitment to life-long learning in psychology.

Completion of the Trauma Area of Emphasis will be granted following the completion of all coursework requirements, completion or securement of a trauma focused practicum, fulfillment of internship requirements, and approval of the dissertation proposal by the dissertation committee.

Students who have successfully completed the Trauma Area of Emphasis may apply for a certificate of completion by clicking  here .

Asked what advice she would offer students today, Dr. White-Cooper says: "Figure out what you want, be intentional and stay focused on your micro-goals. In addition to schoolwork, get social support outside the classroom. This formula will take you on the path to self-discovery and rewarding career in helping others."

"I found a lot of support available to me during the MS program and during my own transition into the PhD."

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[2024] Accredited Trauma Psychology Degrees – Masters & PhD Programs

Trauma and crises are an unfortunate part of life. Car accidents, riots, shootings, natural disasters, and war are just a few of the usual culprits that can traumatize people. Imagine a tornado or hurricane has ravaged your city.

Even if you have come through unscathed, your friends, family, and coworkers may have lost their homes, their belongings, or even their lives. While depressing to think about, this is a reality that people face each and every day in every corner of the world.

Trauma psychology is a specialization within the field of clinical and counseling psychology. Trauma psychologists work with victims of the situations outlined above to help them cope with their feelings, develop strategies for recovery, and build skills that will help bring about closure.

But before trauma psychologists can work with clients, they must undertake a significant amount of schooling. This schooling begins at the bachelor’s degree level and extends for many psychologists through a doctoral program.

The time spent in school may offer trauma psychology students a valuable opportunity to learn how to become effective psychologists and put their learning into practice, so that upon graduation they are ready to respond well to crisis situations.

What is a Trauma Psychology Degree?

A degree in trauma psychology prepares students to tend to the psychological and emotional needs of people in crisis. Crisis in this sense can mean a variety of things, from experiencing grief after the death of a loved one to surviving a catastrophic event like an earthquake to being the victim of a violent crime.

In any situation in which trauma is involved, trauma psychologists are able to work with individuals on the immediate effects of their trauma, as well as address the long-term ramifications of the traumatic experience.

Trauma Psychology Bachelor’s Degrees

To begin one’s education in trauma psychology, a bachelor’s degree should be obtained. Typical undergraduate programs in psychology include 120 semester credit hours, which takes about four years to complete.

Admission into bachelor’s degree programs can vary widely from one college to the next, but prospective students should expect the following common requirements:

• A GED or high school diploma
• A minimum high school GPA, such as 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Satisfactory scores on the SAT or ACT

Undergraduate programs in trauma psychology do not exist, rather, bachelor’s degree programs are much broader in scope. At this level, students are introduced to central topics in the field of psychology. This might include studies of:

• General Psychology – The foundational course in an undergraduate psychology program, general psychology offers students an introduction to many different aspects of studies in this field. This includes everything from emotional development in childhood to brain-based causes of behavior to the history of psychology as a science.
• Developmental Psychology – Another foundational course is developmental psychology . Coursework in this class revolves around how humans develop and change over time. Students examine the development of language in infancy and early childhood, explore social relationships and their impact on behavior, and examine how cognitive tasks, such as memory, degrade as we age.
• Psychology of Learning – This course helps students better understand how humans learn, retain, and apply new information. Various learning theories are explored, including classical and operant conditioning, behaviorism, constructivism, and social learning theory.
• Psychological Statistics – Because psychology often requires much research, students must learn how to calculate, analyze, and interpret statistical information. Students learn how to determine mean, median, and mode, calculate ANOVAs, find standard deviations, and other descriptive statistics. Inferential statistics are also explored, with students learning how to estimate parameters and testing hypotheses.
• History and Systems of Psychology – This course offers students insight into the development of psychology as a science. Students explore the transition of philosophical thought to the science of psychology. The contributions of major figures such as Sigmund Freud, John Watson, and B.F. Skinner are explored as well. Major psychological theories are also examined, including structuralism, functionalism, Gestalt psychology, and psychoanalysis.

Trauma Psychology Master’s Degrees

Master’s level degree programs in trauma psychology are usually in counseling psychology or clinical psychology, with a specialization in trauma or crisis intervention. Like other master’s degree programs in psychology , those with a focus on trauma psychology can require more than 60 credits of coursework, which represents several years of work to be completed.

Also commonly required is fieldwork in which students utilize their content knowledge and practical skills to work with actual clients that have experienced trauma of some kind.

While the requirements for fieldwork will vary from graduate school to graduate school, students can expect to complete anywhere from 600-1,000 hours of fieldwork under the supervision of an experienced and licensed psychologist.

Another component of master’s in trauma psychology programs that varies from institution to institution are the entrance requirements. In some instances, students need little more than a satisfactory undergraduate GPA.

However, other programs have much more stringent requirements that may include completion of required prerequisites, undergraduate research experience, recommendations from undergraduate professors, a personal statement, a curriculum vitae, or participation in an interview process.

Once admitted to a master’s in trauma psychology program, prospective trauma psychologists will take part in advanced studies in the field. These courses might include :

• Counseling Theory – In this course, students develop a working understanding of various counseling theories and how each is used to help a client overcome their trauma. For example, students might learn how to use cognitive-behavioral therapy to help a client change negative thought patterns in order to change the way they feel.
• Psychopathology and Diagnosis – Coursework in this area centers around building competencies in identifying the cause of psychological stress, properly evaluating clients, and issuing an appropriate diagnosis. In the field of trauma psychology, this might involve evaluating a client for PTSD, diagnosing their condition, and developing an appropriate course of treatment for the disorder.
• Grief and Loss Counseling – This class emphasizes the development of skills that allow a trauma psychologist to understand the processes related to grief and acquire the counseling skills necessary to offer effective treatment to persons that have experienced a loss. Students will learn how to respond appropriately to clients of all ages who are in various stages of grief.
• Crisis Intervention and Treatment Methods – Classes in crisis intervention and treatment methods include a study of evidence-based applications of crisis management theory. Students acquire knowledge of various crisis intervention methods, as well as essential skills that allow them to address a host of crisis-related issues, including domestic violence, school violence, and threat of suicide, to name a few.
• Internship – The graduate internship gives students real-world experience in working in trauma and crisis situations, such as in an emergency room or shelter for abused women. In these settings, students utilize the knowledge and skills they have gained throughout their schooling to provide assistance to traumatized clients. This work is done under strict supervision of a licensed psychologist.

Trauma Psychology PhD Degrees

Students pursuing a PhD in trauma psychology most often complete a program of study in the clinical psychology or counseling psychology realms, with specialized coursework in working with traumatized populations.

Unlike graduate school, in which students take part in extensive coursework, the doctoral level is less about coursework and more about independent research and supervised practice. Nevertheless, there are several courses that are commonly required for a PhD in trauma psychology:

• Assessment of Trauma – Students learn about various instruments they can use to screen their clients and assess their traumatic symptoms. These might include self-report or interview-based instruments like the Brief Trauma Questionnaire, the PTSD Checklist, the UCLA Reaction Index, or the Upsetting Events Survey, to name a few. Various assessment procedures for different populations, such as children or military personnel, would likely be reviewed as well.
• Treatment of Trauma – Coursework on treatments for trauma build on the knowledge and skills students gained at the graduate level and allow them to apply their skills specifically to the treatment of traumatized clients. This might involve learning specific treatments like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which involves patterned eye movements that are thought to allow clients to “unlock” traumatic memories such that they can work through them.
• Research – As mentioned above, the bulk of a doctoral candidate’s time is spent conducting research . This generally includes proposing, carrying out, and reporting on original research on a trauma-related topic. Some doctoral programs will require the work to be published in a journal or presented at a symposium for credit to be earned.
• Dissertation – The doctoral dissertation involves much research as well. Generally, one’s doctoral committee must approve the topic under study, and the topic must be of value and contribute to a better understanding of trauma psychology.
• Practicum/Internship – Doctoral students must participate in extensive practicum and internship experiences specifically in the field of trauma psychology. Like with internships at the graduate level, the purpose of these experiences is to place students in real-world situations such that they can hone their skills working with actual clients and get feedback about their performance from licensed professionals.

What is an Online Trauma Psychology Degree?

Just like an in-person trauma psychology degree, online trauma psychology degree is a specialized program that focuses on understanding, assessing, and treating individuals who have experienced severe psychological distress or traumatic events. This can include experiences such as natural disasters, violent crimes, abuse, war, serious accidents, or personal loss.

Online trauma psychology degrees offer the same rigorous curriculum as traditional in-person programs, but they are delivered online, typically through a combination of live and recorded lectures, online readings, digital discussion forums, and remote assignments. This format offers flexibility and convenience, which can be especially helpful if you are working, have family responsibilities, or live far from a university campus.

What is the Role of a Trauma Psychologist?

A trauma psychologist specializes in understanding, assessing, and treating individuals who have experienced traumatic events. Their role includes :

• Assessment : Conducting evaluations to determine the psychological impact of traumatic events on individuals.
• Therapy : Providing evidence-based therapeutic interventions, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) , Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) , and Prolonged Exposure Therapy , to help individuals process trauma and develop coping strategies.
• Research : Studying the psychological effects of trauma to improve treatment methods and understand post-traumatic responses.
• Education : Training other professionals about trauma-informed care and educating communities about trauma’s effects and resilience-building strategies.
• Consultation : Working with organizations, schools, and other entities to develop trauma-informed policies and practices.
• Advocacy : Promoting awareness of trauma’s effects, pushing for policy changes, and ensuring that trauma survivors have access to appropriate resources and care.
• Crisis Intervention : Offering immediate therapeutic support in the aftermath of traumatic events.

By addressing the emotional and psychological aftermath of traumatic events, trauma psychologists play a crucial role in helping individuals heal and regain control of their lives.

What Can You Do With a Trauma Psychology Degree?

An advanced degree in trauma psychology may open many avenues to employment for psychologists. One of the most popular employment settings for trauma psychologists is private practice. Here, trauma psychologists can specialize in working with a specific group, such as survivors of domestic violence, or they can treat trauma in general.

Some trauma psychologists in private practice make a living responding to natural or man-made disasters, offering their services as part of relief organizations that seek to help people recover from crisis situations.

Another potential career path for a trauma psychologist is to work for the military. With the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans of the armed services, trauma psychologists have a definite role to play in helping veterans cope with the traumas they have experienced as part of their service to the country.

Military-based employment might mean a trauma psychologist serves overseas, and potentially even in a war zone. Many other trauma psychologists work stateside in veteran’s hospitals.

Mental health centers often employ trauma psychologists as well. While psychologists in this work setting may not focus all their time on treating clients that are traumatized, their training and expertise can be relied upon in the event of a local emergency. This is especially beneficial in less populated regions where trauma psychologists may not be in great number.

Yet another employment option is to work for a government agency. Trauma psychologists may be part of a state’s emergency response team and use their skills to treat survivors of a crisis situation.

Psychologists may also spend a significant portion of their day conducting research into how humans cope with stress, anxiety, fear, and other emotions associated with trauma.

Additionally, they might work to develop intervention programs that promote a return to normal functioning after a crisis situation has passed.

What Degrees are Similar to Trauma Psychology?

Trauma psychology, with its roots in clinical psychology and counseling psychology, has many related areas of study. Among the most closely related fields are:

Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychology is the basis upon which trauma psychology is founded. As that basis, clinical psychology is much broader in scope, with coursework focusing on treating clients with a host of psychological issues, not just those related to trauma.

• Child Psychology

Unfortunately, children are often traumatized and require extensive psychological help to overcome the trauma they have experienced. Like trauma psychology, child psychology is but one form of clinical psychology, in which psychologists employ their knowledge of human behavior to diagnose, assess, and treat psychological disorders.

Marriage and Family Therapy

Degrees in marriage and family therapy share the clinical focus of trauma psychology, but with a greater emphasis on everyday issues that prevent couples and families from functioning at their best. Also similar to trauma psychology is a focus on brief, solution-focused treatments to help clients effectively deal with current issues that negatively impact their psychological wellbeing.

Health and Wellness Psychology

Degrees that focus on health and wellness are intended to shed light on how psychological issues can impact one’s physiological and emotional functioning. The information gleaned from these studies is often used to design preventions and interventions that promote improved overall health.

Mental Health Counseling

Like the other degree options listed above, mental health counseling trains students to provide treatments to people that are coping with psychological or emotional issues. Students in this type of program develop clinical counseling skills to include in the treatments they offer. These programs may also offer a specialization so students can work with a particular group of people, such as children or the elderly.

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Trauma Counseling Degree Programs

View more featured 100% online psychology programs accepting applications for 2024.

Prepare to Become a Trauma Counselor

People that have experienced trauma can have significant symptoms of trauma. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, or grief are common. Those who have experienced trauma often need support from professionals. Trauma counselors have trained experience to help support those who have experienced trauma.

There a number of psychology programs to choose from in both the online and traditional setting. You will want to find the degree that best suits your goals. In addition, be sure to check your state for specific licensure requirements to practice as a trauma counselor.

Who Should Pursue a Degree in Trauma Counseling?

With a Trauma Counseling degree, you can work with people to heal from traumatic events. This type of psychology degree includes identifying traumatic events, finding methods of acceptance for their past experiences, and developing healthy coping mechanisms that can be beneficial for future health. Trauma counselors work with individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Trauma counselors help identify traumatic events, process trauma, and find healing in trauma. Professionals within this setting provide healing for individuals who have experienced trauma.

Each of these options can allow you to explore the field of Trauma Counseling from an intuitive perspective, which allows for further learning and understanding along the way.

There are different options towards earning a Trauma Counseling degree. Earning a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and later specializing in Trauma is a common route. It is often required for Trauma Counselors to obtain a master's degree. Some professionals choose to initially pursue a general Masters in Counseling program and pursue certification later, while others located Masters in Counseling Psychology programs with focus in Trauma Counseling from the beginning. You may have a plan in mind that can set you on track for success. Regardless of which route you choose, you should gain the same level of experience within both areas along the way.

Bachelors in Counseling

Bachelor's degree programs in counseling are ideal for new students interested in learning the foundation of psychology. In these undergraduate programs, students can expect to learn about the history of psychology. Foundations of psychology are also discussed during program coursework. General education courses are also required through Trauma Counseling Bachelor's programs.

Master's Degree in Trauma Counseling

At the masters-level, students can choose to pursue a general Master's in Counseling . Students can also choose a more specific Master's in Trauma Counseling program. The Master's in Counseling program includes a wide range of coursework in psychology. Trauma Counseling programs focus on coursework specific to trauma. Trauma Counseling and Counseling programs both prepare students to become Trauma Counselors. Students can also take part in supervised internships as part of their masters program specific to their interests.

PhD/Doctorate in Trauma Counseling

Students that desire more education in counseling may find Ph.D. or Doctoral programs in Counseling more attractive. The Ph.D. program is for students interested in changing Trauma Counseling from a research or educational perspective, while the Doctorate in Trauma Counseling may focus primarily on the practical aspects of counseling services within the specialization.

Certification Programs in Trauma Counseling

If you already have a degree in Counseling or Psychology, certificate programs are available. Trauma Counseling certificate programs extend one's capabilities as a professional in this field. Courses within these programs focus on trauma and its interference with mental well-being. Certificate programs are shorter in duration than degree programs. They can also add more expertise to your professional resume.

Trauma Counseling certification programs typically require students to have a Master's Degree. These programs are often 1-2 years, and about 12 to 15 semester credits. Many programs offer an online format. Students have the flexibility to choose part-time or full-time student status.

Specialized Courses in Trauma Studies

Degree programs for Trauma Counseling contain elements of counseling, as well as trauma courses. Students learn about the impact trauma can have on the human body. Trauma Counseling coursework consists of many specialized courses. A few examples of specialized courses are listed below.

• Crisis Management
• Vicarious Trauma
• Trauma Response
• Developmental Trauma
• Trauma Foundations

Trauma counselors work with those who have experienced any traumatic event. Specialized knowledge is important for trauma counselors to provide effective support. Specialized knowledge helps provide treatment to individuals struggling with the effects of trauma.

Accreditation to Look Out For

Accreditation in Trauma Counseling programs is important. Many state licensure requirements include obtaining a counseling degree from an accredited program. One of the largest accreditation organizations is CACREP. Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) provides accreditation to many programs. You can search for program accreditation on their website BLS .

Scholarships for Trauma Counseling Degrees2

There are scholarships available for students who are apart of a Trauma Counseling program. Scholarships are available at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and doctoral level. The American Psychological Association (APA) offers scholarship options for students. You can find those options here BLS .

There are more options from top organizations including The American Psychological Foundation (APF). You can find more scholarship details, and the link to apply here BLS .

Earning Potential of a Trauma Counselor

Trauma Counselors assist people when they are in vulnerable positions. This meaningful career can influence the quality of life for the individuals seeking support. It is also important to learn about earning potential within Trauma Counseling.

Earnings for Trauma Counselors depend on many factors. Factors such as location, setting, and experience may impact earning potential. The information provided below was gathered from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This information is representative of real counselors currently working throughout the United States.

• Counselors – Individual Services: $41,920 on average per year(BLS)1
• Counselors – All Other: $47,600 on average per year(BLS)2

Career Outlook for Trauma Counselors

Professionals learn more about the effects of trauma on mental and emotional development. The effects of trauma impact all ages, and research is progressing each year on trauma and the human body. This knowledge can help shape how Trauma Counselors engage in their everyday work. The need for Trauma Counselors is an ongoing need. The growth rate for Counseling and Mental Health is 23%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS .

In the future, you may see an increase in demand for professionals in this field. More people acknowledge their own traumas and search for relevant supports. Trauma Counselors are integrated into fields that influence personal development. Fields such as medical settings and educational facilities seek out Trauma Counselors.

Trauma Counselor’s Working Environment

Trauma Counseling may be rewarding for students interested in making a profound difference. The work performed in the field can be life-changing for people seeking mental health support. Responsibilities of Trauma Counselors may look different depending on location and position. The end result of each position is often similar if not the same.

Trauma Counselors help clients identify traumatic events. These events have often shaped their thinking, responses, and emotions. Acceptance and healing are two important goals that are often worked on during trauma counseling. A wide range of techniques are used to achieve this goal. Students in Trauma Counseling programs learn theories and techniques specialized for trauma therapy.

Counselors within this degree specialization can work in many settings. Social service agencies, retirement homes, schools, medical facilities, and non-profit organizations are included. Specific groups can be sought out by Trauma Counselors as well. If you are interested in working with a specific group, it may be helpful to research if your group of interest is looking for Trauma Counselors.

Skills and Attributes Preferred in Trauma Counselors

Working with clients that have experienced trauma may require a unique set of skills. Working with survivors of trauma can be challenging. You may want to ensure that you ready to manage the challenges and emotions that come with trauma work.

We’ve listed some of the well-known characteristics of Trauma Counselors. These can be beneficial for those interested in being a part of this field. See if any of these traits are similar to how you would describe yourself.

• Strong-Willed
• Willingness to Follow Client Lead
• Attention to Detail
• Sensitivity
• Client Centered
• Emotional Strength

Steps to Becoming Licensed in Trauma Counseling

Licensing in Trauma Counseling can be a long and time consuming process. Each state has their own expectations for counseling licensure. It is important to review what your state requires before making educational decisions. The steps to achieve your license contain little room for modification.

The degree level required for licensing in counseling is a Master’s degree. Listed below are some of the most common steps for getting licensed in Trauma Counseling. You may want to think about accreditation and experience requirements within each step. This may help you make the right decision about your path to success.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Earning a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Counseling, or Trauma Counseling is important. This first step will provide students with a foundation for advanced degrees later on. A Bachelor’s degree is also required to earn a Master’s degree. This step not only educates students on the foundation of psychology, but provides a wide range of coursework.

Step 2: Earn a Master’s or Doctoral Degree

The Masters in Counseling is the general minimum standard for professionals interested in becoming licensed in their future. Whether its 2-3 years in a masters program or 3-5 in a doctoral program, you can use your degree to find meaningful careers in counseling after completion. There are plenty of doctoral programs that can also help you gain the skills necessary for success in the field, so the degree program you choose is really a matter of preference. You should be sure to check the accreditation status of your program since this is often required for licensure in each state.

Step 3: Take Part in Field Training

During and after your degree program, you can expect to take part in a supervised work experience requirement to help extend your capabilities as a professional Trauma Counselor. These requirements can also vary depending on which state you live in, with most states requiring 3,000 – 4,000 supervised hours under a licensed counselor. This can translate to around 2-3 years for most students.

Step 4: Successfully Pass the Exam

Before you apply for your license, you must receive proper certification. After applying for your certification, you can take the National Counselor Examination in order to test your abilities and knowledge in the field. When you pass this examination, you can move forward to apply for a counseling license in your state.

Step 5: Apply for Your License

Each state may have varying processes for becoming licensed. In general, you submit an application with proof of degree completion, supervised experience, and certifications to your state’s licensing office. Some states also implement a short and standard law examination prior to approving your for practice in their state.

Professional Organizations for Trauma Counselors

The american counseling association.

Finding support as a new Trauma Counselor can be best achieved by joining professional agencies such as the American Counseling Association. This organization can be great for counselors interested in learning about advancements in their field, new technologies, and methods for success with diverse groups.

The American Mental Health Counselors Association

Mental health organizations could be an option for you to consider when working as a Trauma Counselor. The American Mental Health Counselors Association  brings together Counseling professionals.  Counselors from diverse settings work together to coordinate new methods for working with people from all age groups, group activities to assist with networking, and partnerships for field advancement.

The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

If you want to make sure that you are taking all of the right steps as a student in Trauma Counseling, you should seek out information from the NBCC . This credentialing agency sets the standard for upcoming counseling professionals interested in becoming licensed in the future.

Counseling Specialization

Many counselors focus their practice on a specific population or need. Below you will find details about different counseling specializations and degree programs within that specialization.

• General Counseling
• Health Counseling
• LGBTQ Counseling
• Marriage Counseling
• Religious Counseling
• Substance Abuse Counseling

List of Programs

Top psychology degrees.

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology

Description of program.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program was designed in response to the growing interest in psychology as a discipline of study and the need for advanced studies, including research beyond the master’s level. This degree program emphasizes theory, research, and scholarship, culminating in a dissertation.

Click here for potential career opportunities within the PhD in Psychology.

Learning Outcomes

• Appraise theories and principles in psychology to inform professional contexts
• Evaluate research methods and data analysis in psychology
• Select psychological principles and research for application to personal, social, and organizational issues
• Evaluate ethical principles of psychology in academic and professional issues
• Critique diversity issues in professional contexts
• Design clear and effective communication for fellow professionals and the public

Basis for Admissions

In order to enter the Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology, applicants must have a conferred master’s degree from a regionally or nationally accredited academic institution. There are two options for entering the doctoral program in psychology:

• Direct Entry – Individuals with a previously completed master’s degree in any area of Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Social Work may immediately begin the 60-credit PhD program.
• Evaluation Track – Individuals who have previously completed a master’s degree in an area other than one listed above must complete the Standard Curriculum course. Students in the Evaluation Track will begin their degree plan with PSY-7101    and PSY-7102   . They will then be required to complete the Standard Curriculum course prior to taking the remaining courses in their degree plan.

In order to enter the Doctor of Philosophy, Counseling Psychology specialization applicants must have a conferred clinical master’s degree in a mental health or related field that included a practicum/internship, from a regionally accredited institution, and/or licensed in a mental health field.

Standard Curriculum  - Three credit hours determined based on formal evaluation. These credit hours are in addition to the 60 credits listed below.

• PSY-7120 - Overview of the Psychological Concepts    

Degree Requirements

The PhD in Psychology degree requires a minimum of 60 credit hours at the graduate level beyond the master’s degree.

The University may accept a maximum of 12 semester credit hours in transfer toward the doctoral degree for graduate coursework completed at an accredited college or university while enrolled in a doctoral program with a grade of “B” or better.

The PhD degree programs in psychology have the following graduation requirements:

• A minimum of 48 credit hours of graduate instruction must be completed through NCU
• Grade Point Average of 3.0 (letter grade of “B”) or higher
• Satisfactory completion of the Pre-Candidacy Prospectus course 
• University approval of dissertation manuscript and successful completion of the dissertation defense
• Submission of the approved final dissertation manuscript to the University Registrar, including the original unbound dissertation manuscript and an electronic copy
• Official documents on file for basis of admission: a conferred master’s degree from an accredited academic institution
• Official transcripts on file for all transfer credit hours accepted by the University
• All financial obligations must be met before the student will be issued their complementary diploma and/or degree posted transcript

Dissertation Completion Pathway

The NCU mission is dedicated to assisting students in achieving their academic aspirations and helping them become valuable contributors to their community and profession. To support our mission, NCU now offers a dissertation completion pathway for students who have successfully completed their doctoral coursework and achieved doctoral candidacy at a previous institution but were unable to complete their dissertation.  NCU’s Dissertation Completion Pathway (DCP) offers a unique opportunity for students to complete their doctorate in one of the doctoral programs offered at NCU (excluding the PhD in MFT, DMFT, DNP, and DHA). Students successfully meeting the entrance and application requirements will complete a minimum of 23 credit hours to earn their doctorate.

Click below for more information on the

Dissertation Completion Pathway    

Time to Completion

NCU allows 7 years to complete all doctoral programs of 60 credits or less.

The median time to completion for this program is 81 months.

Time to completion varies depending upon the pace in which a student completes courses and the number of transfer credits accepted. As most NCU students are working adults, balancing educational, professional, and personal commitments, our academic and finance advisors will work with you to develop a program schedule that works best for your needs.

Students following the preferred schedule designed by the Dean for this program, and applying no transfer credits, can expect to finish in as little as 46 months.

Dissertation Process

Faculty assists each NCU Doctoral student to reach this high goal through a systematic process leading to a high-quality completed dissertation. A PhD dissertation is a scholarly documentation of research that makes an original contribution to the field of study. This process requires care in choosing a topic, documenting its importance, planning the methodology, and conducting the research. These activities lead smoothly into the writing and oral presentation of the dissertation.

A doctoral candidate must be continuously enrolled throughout the series of dissertation courses. Dissertation courses are automatically scheduled and accepted without a break in scheduling to ensure that students remain in continuous enrollment throughout the dissertation course sequence. If additional time is required to complete any of the dissertation courses, students must re-enroll and pay the tuition for that course. Continuous enrollment will only be permitted when students demonstrate progress toward completing dissertation requirements. The Dissertation Committee determines progress.

Course Sequence

The PhD program may be completed in 60 credits (not including required Standard Curriculum courses) but  may require additional credit hours , depending on the time required to complete the dissertation research. If granted, additional courses will be added to the student degree program in alignment with the SAP and Academic Maximum Time to Completion policies. Students who do not complete their program in accordance with these policies may be dismissed.

• PSY-7101 - Foundations for Doctoral Study in Psychology
• PSY-7102 - Scholarly Writing and Professional Communication in Psychology
• Standard Curriculum Course, if needed
• Specialization Course 1
• PSY-7103 - Research Methods
• Specialization Course 2
• PSY-7104 - Statistics I
• Specialization Course 3
• PSY-7105 - Tests and Measurements -OR- PSY-7116 - Tests and Measurements in Industrial/Organizational Psychology     (I/O specialization)
• Specialization Course 4
• Elective Course*
• PSY-7110 - Introduction to Quantitative and Qualitative Methods
• Specialization Course 5
• Specialization Course 6
• PSY-7111 - Advanced Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis and Design
• PSY-7112 - Research Design Planning
• CMP-9701P - Pre-Candidacy Prospectus
• DIS-9901A - Components of the Dissertation
• DIS-9902A - The Dissertation Proposal
• DIS-9903A - Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Data Collection
• DIS-9904A - The Dissertation Manuscript and Defense

*The Elective course in the PhD in Psychology degree can be satisfied by any 8000-level course in the Department of Psychology.

Exceptions:

• The elective for both counseling specializations is PSY-8606 Clinical Supervision.
• The preferred elective course for the Industrial/Organizational Psychology specialization is PSY-8404. Students that would like to work with the I/O Psychology Internship Coordinator to participate in an internship will need to enroll in PSY-7118 Internship in I/O Psychology, after the I/O Psychology Internship Coordinator approves the internship site and plan.

Trauma and Disaster Relief Specialization

Increasing natural disasters, incidents of abuse and neglect, terrorism, war, violence, and conflict on a local, national, and global level have created a demand for individuals trained in identifying and treating the aftermath of trauma. Victims, witnesses, and relief workers who experience trauma may also find themselves facing a variety of psychological issues, difficulties in interpersonal relationships, physical health problems and be placed at future risk. Mental health workers would benefit from understanding the various facets of trauma, its impact on coping skills, and treatment, intervention, and prevention strategies.

Exposure to trauma and disaster can lead to emotional and behavioral issues for victims, survivors, relief workers, and bystanders. The Trauma and Disaster Relief specialization prepares students to work with individuals who have witnessed natural disasters, accidents, abuse, physical injury, bullying, etc., and who are now grappling with how to cope or to integrate memories or feelings related to that experience.

Specialization Courses - 18 Credit Hours

• PSY-8110 - Psychology of Violence
• PSY-8320 - Psychology of Traumatic Stress
• PSY-8322 - Disaster, Terrorism, and Mass Violence: Impacts on Mental Health
• PSY-8323 - Trauma-informed Assessment, Risk, and Diagnosis
• PSY-8324 - Trauma-informed Interventions with Disaster and Trauma Survivors
• PSY-8325 - Gender and Cultural Considerations in Disaster Trauma and Response

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Clinical mental health counseling: trauma studies.

• Overview & Curriculum
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Promote healing in survivors of trauma.

Trauma affects the mind, the body, and the spirit. Without intervention, these effects can last a lifetime. Develop the skills and knowledge needed to foster healing in people across the lifespan. Through Lesley's Trauma Studies master's degree program, you can choose to pursue one or two internships where you'll gain 700 to 1,300 hours of clinical experience while training alongside practitioners who are driving new thinking in the field.

Advances in neurobiology and increased public awareness have turned a spotlight on the profound biopsychosocial consequences of traumatic experiences on the lives of people. At the same time, growing numbers of those in need of such services, including military veterans, international refugees, and domestic violence survivors, are unable to access the services they need.

At Lesley, our faculty practitioners work alongside you to address these urgent challenges so you can help people sustain hope and break out of unconstructive behaviors and patterns.

You’ll explore the emerging field of post-traumatic therapy, with a focus on counseling those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Discover culturally appropriate community and crisis interventions that foster resilience in the aftermath of violence. And investigate how art and play therapy can facilitate change in children and adolescents.

By completing clinical internships at one or two of Lesley’s 400+ approve sites throughout Greater Boston and across New England, you’ll have all the experience and expertise you need to apply to for your Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) credential.

Program Structure

On-Campus Full- or Part-Time Program

• Required courses in developmental psychology, counseling and psychotherapy theory, clinical skills, research methods, and more.
• Required specialization courses in psychological trauma and post-trauma therapy, disaster mental heath and community crisis intervention, and trauma in the lives of children and adolescents and play therapy
• Students who choose the one-internship option will earn 6 credits through supervision courses that accompany their internship. Students who choose the two-internship option will earn 12 credits through supervision courses that accompany their internships.
• Students who choose the one-internship option will have 9 elective credits to take. Students who choose the two-internship option will have 3 elective credits to take.
• Through our clinical mental health counseling program, gain eligibility for Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) credential in Massachusetts
• Full-time example: 6-11 credits/semester for 7 semesters, including summer. Complete in just under 3 years. Part-time examples: 5-7 credits/semester for 10 semesters, including summer. Complete in about 3.5 years.

Have questions about the clinical mental health counseling master's program? View our frequently asked questions to find your answer.

• When do the master’s degree programs enroll? The master’s degree programs enroll in the Fall and in the Spring. However, once in the program, students take courses during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
• What is the application deadline for the master’s degree programs? The master’s degree programs have two application deadlines. The application deadline to start in the fall semester is on May 1. The application deadline to start in the spring semester is on November 1.
• Do I need to have an undergraduate degree in psychology in order to apply for these master’s degree programs? No! All applicants are required to have a bachelor’s degree, but it does not have to be in psychology, counseling, or a related area of study.
• Does the program have online courses? No. All graduate programs within the Division of Counseling & Psychology are on-campus here in Cambridge, MA. The Division does not offer online programs at this time.
• Can I take courses part-time? Yes! Part-time students will take one or two courses (3 or 6 credits) per semester. Full-time students will take three courses (9 credits) per semester.
• When are courses offered? Courses within the Division of Counseling & Psychology are all on-campus and offered in two different formats: weekday and weekend formats. Course format offerings/availability are subject to a variety of factors and can change from semester to semester. Some classes may be offered in both the weekday and weekend model, and in that case, you could choose which format you prefer. However, other courses may only be offered in one format for a given semester. Formats include weekdays, in which you will have class once a week for 2.5 hours for each class in which you are enrolled. Classes are usually offered from 1-3:30pm, 4-6:30pm, and 7-9:30pm. The second is a weekend format in which you will be on campus for only two weekends, with four weeks in between the two weekends for each class in which you are enrolled. Those two weekends consist of classes on Friday evening from 5-9:50pm, Saturday from 9-6pm, and Sunday 9-6pm. With the weekend format, you are only required to come to campus twice each semester for each class. Please note that it is not possible to complete the entire program in just the weekend model.

The Division of Counseling & Psychology does not currently allow class visits due to the sensitive nature of topics that can arise during class discussion. This is in an effort to make sure that classes are always safe spaces for the current students. We encourage you to schedule a tour of Lesley’s campus or request to speak with a current student.  Sign up for a campus tour hosted by a current graduate student.

This program is designed to prepare graduates to pursue their license as a Mental Health Counselor, School Counselor, of School Adjustment Counselor in the state of Massachusetts, depending on the program you complete. We strongly encourage prospective applicants who intend to pursue licensure or credentialing to  review our “Licensure and Credentialing Information for Prospective Applicants” document  prior to applying to our program.

Yes! There are two courses within the Division of Counseling & Psychology that are open to non-matriculated students. Your ability to enroll in the course will depend on if there is room in the course once fully matriculated students are registered. If you are interested in taking a course within the Division, please email Courtney Millette at  [email protected] .

One-Internship Option

The one-internship option is the most flexible way to complete your 60-credit master’s degree program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Trauma Studies or Holistic Studies. If you choose to do one internship, over 2 semesters, you’ll engage in 700 hours of supervised internship/field experience in a clinical setting. You’ll earn 6 graduate credits through the supervision courses you take while completing your internship and you will meet the minimum requirements for licensure in Massachusetts. Because you’ll be doing one internship, you’ll have 9 credits to take in electives.

Two-Internship Option

You might choose the two-internship option to gain experience in an organization that will only accept students who already have internship experience in a clinical setting, or if you want to gain experience in a variety of settings. Over 4 semesters, you’ll engage in 1,300 hours of supervised internships/field experiences in clinical or school settings. You’ll earn 12 graduate credits through the supervision courses you take while completing your internships and you'll exceed the minimum requirements for licensure in Massachusetts. Because you’ll be doing an additional internship, you'll take 3 credits in electives.

Expected Program Competencies and Outcomes

Learn more about the expected competencies and outcomes that our clinical mental health counseling programs meet:

Outcome 1: Professional counselor identity development integrating multicultural awareness, culturally competent counseling, and social justice advocacy interventions

Outcome 2: Capacity for empathic engagement, therapeutic alliance, and critical self-reflection as a counselor including the recognition of personal worldview and biases to enhance working with diverse groups in school and community settings

Outcome 3: Knowledge of cognitive, social, and emotional development across the lifespan including ecological, contextual, multicultural, and social justice foundations

Outcome 4: Understanding of a variety of counseling theories, prevention, intervention, consultation, and social justice advocacy strategies

Outcome 5: Knowledge of individual psychopathology, mental health assessment and diagnosis, as defined by classification systems such as Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) and the International Classification of Disease (ICD) and their relationship to treatment, prevention and knowledge of cultural biases associated with these systems

Outcome 6: Ability to conduct an intake interview, use biopsychosocial case conceptualization for treatment planning, and conceptualize and deliver a case presentation in both written and oral form  

Outcome 7: Knowledge regarding the use, limitations and interpretation of assessment tools with an awareness of the cultural bias in assessment protocols and use of assessment/evaluation instruments and techniques that foster social justice among diverse client populations

Outcome 8: Skills for training, consulting, and collaborating with families, school personnel, and healthcare providers for education, systems change, and social justice advocacy

Outcome 9: Understanding of ethical and legal professional standards of care grounded in federal and state laws, public policy processes, and ethical standards of ACA, AMHCA and ASCA

Outcome 10: Knowledge of principles and practices of career counseling including the study of vocational/career development theories and decision making models; career assessment instruments and techniques, and the application of social justice theories to people’s vocational/career development

Outcome 11: Understanding of how to critically evaluate and interpret traditional and social justice oriented research and apply relevant research in counseling practice with the knowledge of cultural biases associated with research practice

Outcome 12: Knowledge of group theory, effective group interventions, principles of group dynamics, group processes, and group leadership, and the application of group work theory and practice to organizational dynamics and social justice advocacy in difficult settings

Outcome 13: Neuroscience, physical and biological foundations of human development, behavior and wellness; including the use of neuro-scientific research findings for culturally competent counseling practices and social justice advocacy interventions

Outcome 14: Completion of supervised field placement experiences that focus on the promotion of mental health, human development, wellness, cultural competency, and social justice advocacy, under the clinical supervision of appropriately credentialed professionals

Cambridge, MA

A nexus for higher education and mental health counseling practice and research, each year 250,000 students arrive to Cambridge from around the globe. The intellectual and cultural capital runs deep, and so do your opportunities addressing barriers to wellness. From Lesley’s location, access innovative community, hospital, and school-based mental health programs.

• Inpatient psychiatric units
• Day treatment programs
• Mental health centers
• Private schools
• College counseling centers
• Public schools
• Residential programs
• Domestic violence shelters
• Homeless shelters
• Eating disorders clinics
• Substance abuse centers

6 Critical Skills for Counselors

The Counseling & Psychology Student Experience

How to Become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor

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Of our 2019 graduating class is employed or furthering their education..

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5 popular career paths for mental health counselors.

Graduate counseling students receive therapy fellowships

Depending on your professional goals, where you reside or plan to practice, and the licensure requirements within that state, there are different pathways toward licensure or credentialing that may be relevant. In accordance with Lesley University’s institutional participation in SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) and with federal regulations, we strongly encourage prospective applicants who intend to pursue licensure in a state other than Massachusetts to visit the Lesley University Licensure and Credentialing webpage and review the “Licensure Information for Students and Applicants” document for their specific program.

• Mental Health Counselor
• Mental Health Specialist
• School Counselor
• School Adjustment Counselor
• Mental Health Clinician
• Senior Counselor
• Recovery Counselor
• Inpatient Psychiatric Hospitals
• Outpatient Clinics
• Therapeutic Schools
• Residential Homes
• Substance Abuse Clinics
• AIDS Treatment Centers
• Domestic Violence Shelters

Interim Co-Chair, Professor, Counseling and Psychology

Susan Gere, Professor and Interim Co-Chair of the Counseling and Psychology department, is Core Faculty and a clinician and consultant in the community. Dr. Gere’s research and teaching interests are in integrative approaches to trauma treatment; understanding the impact of adverse life experience on adult learning; and mental health consultation in clinical, educational, organizational, and community settings. “I am interested in the many ways in which psychosocial knowledge can inform our understanding of educational processes across settings.”

Adam Meiselman

Assistant Professor of Counseling and Psychology

Sue Motulsky

Professor of Counseling and Psychology

Sue’s teaching, writing, and research interests are in developmental and relational psychology, including adult development, cultural psychology, gender issues and women’s psychology, identity and relational development, LGBTQ+ career and identity development, and career counseling and vocational development.

Research interests include feminist, relational psychology, identity development, career development and life/career transitions, specifically transgender and nonbinary adults’ career decision-making, and qualitative, constructivist and narrative research.

Joe Mageary

Associate Professor and Department Chair, Counseling & Psychology

Joe Mageary, PhD, LMHC, CCMHC (he/him) is an Associate Professor in Lesley University’s Department of Counseling and Psychology. As a member of the core faculty, Dr. Mageary has also served as the Director of Field Training for Counseling and Psychology. He is a Massachusetts Licensed School Adjustment Counselor and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), as well as a nationally certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Connecticut. He has used his LMHC in inpatient, outpatient, and community-based clinical roles and has extensive experience as a clinical supervisor, having worked as the Director of Emergency Services and Jail Diversion for an eighteen-town catchment area as well as serving as a Clinical Director in therapeutic high school settings for nearly a decade prior to joining Lesley’s faculty.

Throughout his career, Dr Mageary’s clinical work has been rooted in trauma-informed efforts to decrease stigma and suffering associated with mental illness through providing creative, community-based, collaborative, and recovery-oriented services. His clinical approach is influenced by tenets of Narrative Therapy, trauma-informed approaches, critical psychology, and brief therapies as well as by transdisciplinary thinkers such as Gregory Bateson and Edgar Morin. He holds a certificate from the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma’s Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery program and is working interdisciplinarily on multiple projects related to supporting people who have been displaced and/or otherwise impacted by war, natural disaster, and other systemic stresses. Specifically, Dr. Mageary has worked with  Voces Arts and Healing , a group of expressive therapists, clinicians and advocates supporting asylum seekers and their allies in the Juarez, Mexico/El Paso, Texas metropolitan area. He is also actively partnered with the  Lesley University Institute for Trauma Sensitivity  (LIFTS) in weekly consultation and support for teachers and child psychologists in the Kirovohradska region of Ukraine.

Dr. Mageary is interested in exploring creative and body-oriented approaches to healing. He led a team that developed the Visual Reflection Team model: an arts-based version of the Reflecting Team technique used in Family Systems- and Narrative therapies.

In addition to having his LMHC, Dr. Joe Mageary is a:

• Nationally Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC)
• Licensed School Adjustment Counselor and Special Education Administrator in the state of Massachusetts
• Level one- and two-trained Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) clinician
• Member of the American Counseling Association (Massachusetts and Rhode Island Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Division) and the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association

Rakhshanda Saleem

Professor, Counseling and Psychology

Rakhshanda’s scholarship and pedagogy is informed by a transnational and interdisciplinary perspective with a focus on the impact of structural and systemic violence. Her philosophical frameworks are embedded in decolonial, liberatory, and the emancipatory consciousness and the potential of grassroots and community-engaged movements. She is invested in solidarity organizing aimed at dismantling oppressive sociopolitical structural determinants of harm to individual and communal wellbeing and radical reimagining of alternatives to neoliberal and depoliticized theoretical models and wellness industry.  

Examples of her most recent scholarship include understanding issues facing disenfranchised migrant communities and learning about solidarity from the perspectives of impacted community members, activist, and organizers, exploring structural violence and its impact on “undocumented” Latinos (as) immigrants, Muslims (immigrants and non-immigrants), and LGBTQIA+ persons who have experienced incarceration, and identifying pre and post migration factors impacting the wellbeing of South Asian immigrant women.  Another area of interest and a developing project is exploring the trajectory of individuals involved in grassroot movements and community organizing in solidarity and resistance to systemic and structural violence to further understand consciousness raising and change occurs at an individual level.  

Rakhshanda is a licensed psychologist and a clinical neuropsychologist. Her work as a Harvard Medical School clinical instructor included assessment and clinical care for patients with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds needing linguistic and culture specific assessment and care.

Donna San Antonio

Donna Marie San Antonio has worked as a community organizer, teacher in grades 7-12, school counselor, outdoor educator-counselor, nonprofit administrator, and university instructor. She came to Lesley University in 2011 after teaching for 8 years in the Risk and Prevention Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. For 26 years, she directed the Appalachian Mountain Teen Project, an activity-based counseling program that she founded in 1984 to serve low-income and struggling youth in central and northern New Hampshire. 

Dr. San Antonio’s research and practice focus on understanding and supporting social, emotional, and physical wellness during adolescence and emerging adulthood. She has published on topics including developmental transitions for rural adolescents and emerging adults; the influence of social class and trauma in life course design and aspiration; experiential education/adventure-based counseling; school-based and workplace mentoring; school climate and social-emotional development; cross-role and cross-institutional collaboration; and community and school-based participatory action research for social change. Her current research projects include an exploration into the lifelong impact of therapeutic adventure activities during adolescence, and an auto-ethnography on how schools and communities in low-income rural areas support the social integration and well-being of migrant youth and families.  

Dr. San Antonio collaborates with international practitioners and researchers on urgent issues in school and community counseling. She frequently consults with school and community programs seeking to address cultural and economic barriers to success. She serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Experiential Education and is a Founding Member of the International Society of Policy, Research and Evaluation in School Counseling. She coordinates Lesley University’s affiliation with the UNESCO-UNITWIN Project on Lifelong Career. 

About her on-going community work, Dr. San Antonio says, "I believe in involving youth as active participants in addressing issues that threaten their well-being, such as poverty, racism, trauma, sexism, and homophobia.” As a classroom instructor and community activist, Dr. San Antonio works to create contexts that offer a high level of active critical reflection and dialogue. She enjoys hiking, biking, canoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.   

PhD Director, Associate Professor of Counseling & Psychology

Peiwei is an Associate Professor of Counseling & Psychology, the Director for the PhD program in Counseling & Psychology, and a member of the Executive Board of the Society for Qualitative Inquiry in Psychology (SQIP). Her cross-cultural experiences as an immigrant in the U.S. and as a Chinese woman growing up in the late socialist/emerging capitalist era in China have shaped her genuine interest in understanding the intersection of culture, race, gender and class. She is particularly intrigued by the complex power relations of marginalization and dominance that perpetuate and reproduce social and systemic pathologies and inequalities. This also fuels her passion to create conditions for consciousness raising and collective participatory actions toward a better world.

As a teacher, Peiwei’s pedagogy has been shaped by critical and feminist theories that foreground relationship, dialogue, reflection and love. She strives to create openness, trust and authenticity in the classroom that enables critical thinking, dialogues, self-reflection, emotional exploration, and the inclusion of marginalized voices. As a trained counseling psychologist and a research methodologist, Peiwei’s scholarship explores the borderland of critical psychology and critical qualitative methodologies, pertaining to self and identity development, consciousness raising, recognition, and the emancipatory aspect of knowledge. Her most recent critical ethnographic study focuses on the conditions and process of critical consciousness raising during diversity/social justice education.

In addition, Peiwei investigates graduate students’ conception and experiences with research methodology classes, and develops teaching pedagogies that holistically center students’ identities in learning. Peiwei is also passionate about critiquing and reconstructing current code of research ethics to make it more inclusive of historically marginalized and indigenous perspectives, and better attend to layered power relations in knowledge production and dissemination. Inspired by Zen practices, Peiwei is also drawn to the intersection of Eastern spiritual traditions such as Zen Buddhism, and psychotherapy and healing.

Elizabeth Barragato

Visiting Instructor, Counseling & Psychology

Liz Barragato , MA, LMHC, has been an adjunct faculty member at Lesley University since 2014 and is thrilled to be a member of the core faculty starting in the 2021-2022 academic year. Liz has a private counseling and consultation practice in Cambridge, MA, and Liz is also a managing co-owner of Crooked Tree Counseling, LLC , in Cambridge.

Being a masters-level instructor, instead of having areas of scholarship, Liz had areas of clinical interest. Liz is interested in holistic theories and counseling methods, with a special interest in the intersection of Eastern wisdom practices, mental health, and wellness.

Liz brings this interest to the coordination of the Holistic Studies Specialization in the Counseling and Psychology Department. Liz is also deeply influenced by existential and relational psychoanalytic counseling approaches. Through all of these theoretical lenses, Liz see critical theory and issues of social justice permeating the work of counseling and teaching.

• On-Campus, One-Internship Option
• On-Campus, Two-Internship Option
• Tuition $1,300 x 60 $78,000
• Fees Field Experience Fees $1,700 MAP Tevera Fee $200 Comprehensive Fee $1,500

All graduate students are reviewed for merit scholarships through the admissions process and are awarded at the time of acceptance. Other forms of financial aid are also available. Review all graduate tuition and fees , and what they cover. Tuition and fees are subject to change each year, effective in the Summer term.

• Tuition $1,300/credit x 60 $78,000
• Fees Field Experience Fees $3,400 MAP Tevera Fee $200 Comprehensive Fee $1,500

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Northern Illinois University Department of Psychology College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

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Trauma Psychology Focus

Trauma psychology is geared for students with strong research and clinical interests in the area of trauma.

This focus area is based on the premise that trauma, broadly defined, is a risk factor in multiple disorders. Increased understanding of causes and consequences of traumatic stress and related sequelae will enhance the development of intervention strategies to reduce negative effects of trauma exposure. Consistent with the New Haven trauma competencies, training will target the core competencies of scientific knowledge about trauma, trauma-relevant psychosocial assessment, trauma-relevant psychosocial intervention and trauma-informed professionalism. You will receive exposure and training in best practices in assessment and evidence-based treatment modalities in trauma psychology. You will also produce original scholarship in trauma psychology.

Trauma Journal Club

You will have opportunities to conduct research under the supervision of clinical or affiliated faculty. Faculty research interests include emotional processing, emotion regulation, interpersonal violence, emergency responders, risk and protective factors following trauma exposure, trauma disclosure, and posttraumatic stress.

To apply indication your interest in the trauma psychology focus on your application materials. If you have any questions about the program, please contact Holly Orcutt , Ph.D. at [email protected]  for additional information.

Faculty and Associates

Trauma Psychology faculty and affiliates include:

Requirements

You must complete the same requirements as outlined for all clinical students with the following differences:

• Take the graduate level trauma seminar that will cover history and theories of trauma research and intervention.
• Take the graduate level trauma seminar that will cover evidence-based assessment and treatment methods in trauma psychology.
• Attend Trauma Journal Club and other relevant brown bag presentations (Anxiety Research Topics [ART], CSFVSA).
• See trauma assessment and intervention cases in the PSC as part of the Trauma Services Clinic  at least one semester during your tenure in the program.
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Department of Psychology Psychology-Computer Science Building room 400 815-753-0372

Director of Graduate Studies Kevin Wu, Ph.D [email protected]

Graduate Studies Assistant [email protected]

Admission Questions [email protected]

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EdD in Community Care and Counseling – Traumatology

Transfer credits, next start date, help communities rebuild with liberty university’s traumatology degree .

Have you ever witnessed a disaster on the news or in your own life? Communities and individuals alike can suffer severe consequences as a result of traumatic situations. From the city recovering from a natural disaster to the service member struggling with PTSD, people need the help of trained and equipped counselors.

That’s where a Doctor of Education (EdD) from Liberty University comes in. Our EdD in Community Care and Counseling – Traumatology can help equip you to counsel people who are dealing with traumatic experiences. Our professors will cover a wide variety of subjects including how to address emergencies, disasters, and personal tragedies with skill and sensitivity.

Please note: This EdD degree is not designed to meet state counseling licensure requirements. If you are interested in a state counseling license, please see our  Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling ,  Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy , or Master of Education in School Counseling .

How do you become a trauma expert?

Becoming an expert in any field requires a combination of education, training, and experience. Liberty University’s community care and counseling traumatology degree can provide you with the tools needed to become a trauma counselor and expert.

Throughout this program, you will conduct both research and practice, helping you become more skilled as a trauma therapist. Additionally, since this is a terminal degree you will be at the educational height of your field upon graduation.

What degree do you need to be a trauma counselor?

In order to become a trauma counselor, you will need a master’s or doctoral degree in traumatology. Our EdD includes extensive research and writing for the integrated dissertation. However, our program goes beyond academia and provides you with expert knowledge and opportunities for real-life training and practice.

How does trauma therapy work?

There are several different types of therapy that can be used with trauma victims. However, one of the most common methods is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Through CBT, the counselor conducts a limited number of sessions with the patient to talk through negative thought patterns. By identifying these patterns, the counselor can guide the patient to correct them and begin looking at situations in a healthier way.

CBT is a beneficial therapeutic method for trauma victims because it allows them to form healthy coping mechanisms when memories and triggers arise for them. You could help your patients learn to think in a way that allows them to thrive.

Why Choose Liberty’s Online EdD in Traumatology?

Our mission is Training Champions for Christ , and we strive for excellence in all that we do. Here are some of the ways that Liberty’s program stands out:

• Completing your EdD online program with Liberty University will provide you with both experience and an opportunity to conduct advanced research.
• The integrated dissertation allows you to simultaneously complete significant parts of your required research and your online course content.
• This doctorate offers 5 courses specifically in trauma therapy, helping you hone your skills in this unique area of counseling.

What Will You Learn in Our Online Community Care and Counseling – Traumatology Doctorate Degree Program?

This EdD in Traumatology focuses on personal research and writing. You can learn the core, expert-level content you need to succeed in trauma counseling for communities, families, and individuals. Then, you will take what you have learned and apply it to your dissertation, which will be an original, written work.

Some of the concepts that can prepare you for your EdD in trauma counseling online dissertation include:

• Appropriate responses to community trauma
• How to diagnose and treat addictive behaviors
• Qualitative methods of research
• Trauma in children, adults, and families
• Types of therapy used for trauma

Featured Courses

• TRMA 800 – Child and Adolescent Trauma
• TRMA 810 – Adult and Familial Trauma
• TRMA 820 – Disaster Mental Health and Community Response
• TRMA 830 – Assessment and Testing in the Treatment of Trauma

Liberty University’s Online EdD in Traumatology Degree Highlights

• We are recognized by multiple institutions for our academic quality, affordability, and accessibility . Our commitment to excellence also helped us rank in the top 10% of Niche.com’s best online schools in America . Earning your online doctorate in traumatology from a nonprofit university with this kind of recognition can help set you apart from others in your field.
• Your success is our success, which is why we are committed to providing quality academics at an affordable tuition rate. While other colleges are increasing their tuition, we have frozen tuition rates for our undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs for the past 9 years – and counting.
• Optional on-campus intensives give you the opportunity to receive hands-on training from experienced counseling professionals.
• By completing an integrated dissertation project, you can demonstrate your expertise and ability to apply advanced counseling theories to real-world problems.

Liberty’s EdD in Community Care and Counseling Degree Information

• This program falls under the School of Behavioral Sciences .
• Download and review Liberty University’s EdD Degree Completion Plan .
• View the Graduate Behavioral Sciences Course Guides for the doctorate in trauma counseling (login required). 
• Download and view the Ed.D. in Community Care and Counseling Handbook for more information on the dissertation process and other aspects of this online trauma therapy and crisis response degree.

Apply Now       Request Info

Military Benefits for Our Online Doctoral Program in Trauma Psychology

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe. Whether you are a current service member, discharged or retired from service, or the spouse of a service member or veteran, we are here to support you every step of the journey.

As a thank-you for your dedication and service to our country, Liberty is honored to serve and support you in your pursuit of online education by offering the following benefits:

• Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
• Additional discount for veterans who serve in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course)
• 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

Potential Career Options with a Disaster and Developmental Traumatology Doctorate

Explore some of the career opportunities you may be qualified to pursue upon graduation: 

• Church counselor
• Disaster relief recovery specialist
• Group therapist
• Outpatient care therapist
• Remote mental health coach
• Social worker
• Trauma therapist
• Victim advocate

Please note: Many clinical counseling roles will require individual state licensure.

Admission Requirements for Liberty University’s Community Care and Counseling EdD Program

A regionally or nationally accredited master’s degree with a 3.0 or above GPA is required for admission in good standing. Please visit our admission requirements page  for more detailed admissions-related information.

All applicants must submit the following:

• Admission application
• Application fee*
• Official college transcripts
• Proof of English proficiency (for applicants whose native language is other than English)

Applicants lacking a graduate-level statistics course will be required to complete CEFS 515 Research and Program Evaluation (3 c.h.), or EDUC 518 Educational Research and Assessment (3 c.h.), or its equivalent prior to EDCO 735 in the Ed.D.

*There is no upfront application fee; however, a deferred $50 application fee will be assessed during Financial Check-In. This fee is waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required.

*Some restrictions may occur for this promotion to apply. This promotion also excludes active faculty and staff, military, Non-Degree Seeking, DGIA, Continuing Education, WSB, and Certificates.

Apply FREE This Week*

Other programs you may be interested in

Doctor of Ministry (DMN)

Doctor of Ministry: Chaplaincy

Next Start Date: May 13, 2024

Master of Arts (MA)

Human Services Counseling: Crisis Response and Trauma

Pastoral counseling: crisis response and trauma, looking for a different program.

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Disclaimer: This calculator is a tool that provides a rough estimate of the total cost of tuition, and should not be relied upon to determine overall costs, as pricing may vary by program and tuition/fees are subject to change. Estimates are not final or binding, and do not include potential financial aid eligibility.

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You have to have a lot of self-motivation and self-discipline when you are going to school online, but the amazing thing is at Liberty you do not need to do it by yourself. You really do have resources like someone who is going to school on campus.

– Janae Fleming ’15, B.S. in Education

Trauma and Transformation

Why difficult experiences can radically change us..

Posted March 18, 2024 | Reviewed by Monica Vilhauer

• What Is Trauma?
• Find a therapist to heal from trauma
• A great deal of research has shown that suffering and trauma can have positive long-term effects.
• “Transformation through turmoil” sometimes occurs after bereavement, serious illness, or deep depression.
• This shift often occurs when the person is in a mode of acceptance.

It’s human instinct to avoid suffering and try to make life as comfortable and easy as possible. But paradoxically, a great deal of research has shown that suffering and trauma can have positive long-term effects.

Many people who go through intense trauma, for example, become deeper and stronger than they were before. They may even undergo a sudden and radical transformation that makes life more meaningful and fulfilling.

Indeed, research shows that between half and one-third of all people experience significant personal development after traumatic events, such as bereavement , serious illness, accidents or divorce . Over time, they may feel a new sense of inner strength, confidence , and gratitude for life and other people.

They may develop more intimate and authentic relationships and have a wider perspective, with a clear sense of what is important in life and what isn’t. In psychology, this is referred to as “ post-traumatic growth ”.

Over the past 15 years as a psychologist , I’ve been researching an especially dramatic form of post-traumatic growth that I call “transformation through turmoil.” It sometimes happens to soldiers on a battlefield, to the inmates of prison camps who are on the verge of starvation, or to people who have been through periods of severe addiction , depression , bereavement or illness.

People report feeling as if they have taken on a new identity . They shift into a much more intense and expansive awareness, with a powerful sense of well-being. The world around them seems more real and beautiful. They feel more connected to other people and to nature.

In my book Extraordinary Awakenings , I share some of these cases and explore what we can learn from these transformations and how we can apply this to our own personal development.

Take, for example, the story of Adrian, who underwent transformation while in prison in Africa. He was locked up in a tiny cell 23 hours a day, with no idea of when he might be released. During the endless hours of incarceration, he began to reflect on his life and to let go of the past and any sense of failure or disappointment.

In the cell, he had a small statuette of the Buddha, which he had picked up on his travels around Asia. In a kind of spontaneous meditation practice, he began to focus his attention on the statuette for long periods. Over the next few weeks, Adrian began to feel more at peace, until he experienced a sudden shift:

It was like the flick of a switch … It was a complete feeling of release and acceptance, of everything and anything that was going to happen. It was a release of blame, of anxiety , of anger and ego. For three days I was in a state of what can best be described as grace. After that, the feeling eased, but it remained inside me.

A woman called Eve had a similar experience. After 29 years of addiction, she felt physically and emotionally broken and attempted suicide . She survived, but this encounter with death brought about a shift and her urge to drink was gone. Eve felt so different that, as she told me: “I looked at myself in the mirror, and I had no idea who I was.”

Despite initially being a little confused by her transformation, Eve felt liberated and had a heightened awareness and an increased sense of gratitude and connection. She has never felt the urge to drink again and has now been sober for ten years.

The Importance of Acceptance

In my research, I found that this shift often occurs when the person is in a mode of acceptance. Some people could identity a specific moment when they let go or gave up their resistance to their predicament. In some cases, they felt they had no choice but to accept their state, as they had nothing left to cling to or to hope for. For instance, a man called Kevin experienced a sudden shift when, as an alcoholic engaged in the AA recovery process, he “handed over” his problem in a mode of surrender. Another man, Michael, became disabled after a fall while he was running. He underwent transformation when he heard a voice inside his head say, “Let go, man, let go. Look at how you’re holding on. What do you think life’s telling you?”

The Breakdown of Identity

It’s important to note that there is nothing religious about transformation through turmoil. Essentially, it’s a psychological experience, related to a breakdown of identity.

In my view, it’s caused by the dissolution of psychological attachments, such as hopes, dreams and ambitions. These attachments sustain our normal sense of identity. So when they dissolve away, our identity collapses. This is usually a painful experience, but in some people, it seems to allow a new identity to emerge.

And my research indicates that such deep-rooted and consequential changes usually remain indefinitely. This is one reason why I don’t believe that the phenomenon can be explained away as self-delusion.

Transformation through turmoil reveals the massive potential and deep resilience within human beings – which we are usually unaware of until we face challenges and crises. So in essence, in the process of breaking us down, turmoil and trauma may also wake us up.

Taylor, S. (2012): Transformation Through Suffering: A Study of Individuals who have Experienced Positive Psychological Transformation Following Periods of Intense Turmoil. The Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 52 (1), 30-52

Taylor, S. (2021). Extraordinary Awakenings: When Trauma Leads to Transformation. New World Library.

Taylor. S. (2021). Transformation through loss and grief: A study of personal transformation following bereavement. The Humanistic Psychologist, 49 (3), 381–399.

Steve Taylor, Ph.D., is senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Beckett University. He is the author of several best-selling books, including The Leap and Spiritual Science.

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